As with any big city over an extended period of time, I had the need to get out of Rome for a day or two to take in some nature and open spaces. I couldn’t think of anywhere better to do that than Tuscany, so I booked a day trip. For those of you who have been to Napa as I have, you might go into this day trip with some expectations regarding what it will be like. You might expect that you’ll go from vineyard to vineyard tasting wine and riding the bus home with a happy buzz and a case of sublime nectar that you need to ship back. Why might you think that? Because I sure did! Suffice it to say, it was nothing like that but still an absolute delight and certainly a teaser to go back to fulfill my expectations.
The trip starts by taking a two and a half hour drive from Rome to the medieval Renaissance hill town of Montepulciano situated in southern Tuscany. Montepulciano is one of Italy’s principle producers of food and drink primarily, pork, cheese, pasta, honey, and of course, the best Vino Nobile wine in the world. Walking through this stunning village is like stepping back in time! Perhaps that’s why it’s been a location for movies like Twilight and Under the Tuscan Sun. Remember that scene where straight men in tights “throw the flags”? That scene takes place in Piazza Grande in Montepulciano!
From Montepulciano it’s a short drive to Montalcino which is the home of the historic Romanesque Abbey of Sant’Antimo. Legend has it that Charlemagne and his men stopped here because his troops got very sick from an unknown illness and locals served them a herb drink that saved them. Supposedly Charlemagne built the Abbey in gratitude to the locals.
No trip to Tuscany would be complete without the lunch with wine pairings. Admittedly, I can’t for the life of me remember the name of this winery and there are SO many wineries in this region, I don’t even want to try to assume. But this experience is fairly typical of the area, lunch in the barrel room!
The day wraps up with a little walking tour of the village of Pienza. This little village has been the summer residence to more than one pope over the years. It’s easy to see why…it’s absolutely picturesque! We arrived a little late and didn’t stay long as many of the shops where already closed, but it left me wanting more. In fact, this entire day left me wanting to come back for an extended time and see more of the breathtaking region of Tuscany!
